ISS Operations Update – May 4, 2016

Experiments:

Rodent Research 3 – Animal Transfer and Bone Densitometer Scans [Rodent Research 3, named after the sponsoring company Eli Lilly and Co., will conduct a close study of myostatin inhibition for the prevention of sekeletal muscle atrophy and weakness in mice during long-duration spaceflight. A rapid loss of bone and muscle mass is observed in astronauts during spaceflight, especially to the legs and spine at rates similar to atrophy in people with muscle-wasting deseases on Earth. The study makes use of mice as a model organism to examine the response to certain drugs preventing muscle or bone loss.]

Fluid Shifts – Equipment Preparation [Fluid Shifts Before, During and After Prolonged Space Flight and Their Association with Intracranial Pressure and Visual Impairment. Known as the Fluids Shift study, this experiment is one of the most complex integrated experiments ever performed on ISS using pieces of US and Russian hardware to attempt to quantify the amount of fluid shifting from the lower body to the upper body when transitioning from a gravity to a microgravity environment. This will also lead to an understanding of effects of the fluid shift on fluid pressure in the head, changes to vision and eye structure. Effects on the eye caused by elevated intracranial pressure include globe flattening, choroidal folds, and alteration of the optic nerve.]

Microbial Observatory-1 – Procedures Review [The MO-1 study will acquire air and surface samples from various locations of the International Space Station to observe which bacteria are present. This collection will last for one year to allow scientists to look at the types of microbes that can survive in the space environment and study their changes over time. This data is valuable for the assessment of risks to crew health and it also allows a close look at the way microbes adept in space as compared to mechanisms known from Earth-based studies.]

Other Activities:

Pressurized Mating Adapter 1 – Node 1 Intermodule Ventilation Reconfiguration: After the ground-commanded reconfiguration to split ventilation between the RSOS and USOS, residual air exchange was still observed in telemetry data. To further limit air exchange, the Node 1 Overhead Starboard diffuser vanes were repositioned so air flows away from the PMA. Airflow is currently being reconfigured in order to optimize Carbon Dioxide removal.